Russia attacked and burned one of the oldest and most important churches in Ukraine

Vladimir Putin's dictatorship continues to attack civilian targets, as well as religious sites and sites of significant historical and artistic value.

A Russian attack sets fire to a historic Catholic monastery in Lviv, Ukraine
Russia has attacked nearly 600 Christian churches in Ukraine: what propagandists are keeping quiet about

In the early hours of Monday, Russia launched a new attack against civilian targets in Ukraine, with 70 missiles and 611 drones. The Ukrainian president posted a message this morning at 11:41 CET stating that the Russians "deliberately targeted the part of the city where the Lavra and the Mystetskyi Arsenal are located. As of now, 35 people are reported injured in Kyiv. Across the country, 53 people have been wounded, and 11 people are known to have been killed in this massive Russian attack."

У Києві на території Києво-Печерської Лаври триває ліквідація наслідків російських ударів. Виникла пожежа даху Успенського Собору на площі близько 800 кв. м.
Також сталося займання будівлі музейного комплексу «Мистецький арсенал» на площі 1000 кв. м pic.twitter.com/Jly7vUa2db

— DSNS.GOV.UA (@SESU_UA) June 15, 2026

The Cathedral of the Dormition of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra is one of the most important and oldest Christian churches in Ukraine. Its construction began in the 11th century. In 1941, under the pretext of its scorched-earth policy against the German invasion of the USSR, the Soviet dictatorship destroyed this church and other important religious sites in Ukraine, in an action that showed utter contempt for Ukraine's historical and cultural heritage. The communist dictatorship left this cathedral unrebuilt after the end of World War II. Finally, in 1995, after Ukraine's independence, the cathedral was rebuilt in a project that lasted two years. The cathedral was reconsecrated in 2000.

The Dormition Cathedral is part of the important Kyiv Pechersk Lavra (Monastery of the Caves) complex, the oldest monastery in Ukraine. Its origins date back to the 11th century, and it is one of the main and most beautiful historical monuments in the city of Kyiv. UNESCO declared the complex a World Heritage Site in 1990.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko announced today that the cathedral will be restored: "Thanks to the professionalism and swift actions of our emergency responders, the fires have been extinguished. Russia attempted to destroy the Lavra for a second time – just as it did in 1941. Thankfully, we will not have to rebuild this Ukrainian shrine from its foundations. The Government will secure funding for its restoration. As President Zelenskyy noted, the Government is preparing decisions to allocate resources from the reserve fund for urgent roof stabilization and its subsequent restoration."

This morning, at 11:45 CET, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) published evidence of Russian responsibility for the attack, carried out with a Geran-2 drone (the Russian version of the Iranian Shahed 136 drone):

"According to the investigation, the enemy attacked the monastic complex at 1:50 a.m. on June 15, 2026, during a massive shelling of the Ukrainian capital. After inspecting the site of the incident, SBU agents found fragments of the fuselage and engine of the Russian kamikaze drone, which crashed into the Chapel of St. Stephen in the Cathedral of the Assumption in Laurea. During the examination of the enemy drone's remains, it was discovered that some of its components were manufactured in Russia, in the Alabuga Special Economic Zone. This is indicated by the corresponding markings found on the fragments of the Russian drone. As a result of the enemy attack, the cathedral's roofs, domes, walls, and windows were damaged. There were no deaths or injuries."

Below these lines we can see images of the fragments of the Russian drone found in the cathedral, images published by the SBU on its Telegram channel. This morning, as is customary, the Kremlin launched a disinformation campaign not only to deny responsibility for the attack on the cathedral, but also to deny its attacks on civilian targets, which have been occurring constantly and systematically since the very beginning of the invasion. Putin's dictatorship uses lies as yet another weapon against the Ukrainian people, first launching terrorist attacks against civilian targets and then denying them despite abundant evidence.

Andrii Sybiha, Ukraine's Foreign Minister, stated: "By striking the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, one of the greatest holy sites of Christianity, Putin has forever put his name on the list of history’s worst barbarians. He should be damned for centuries. And he will lose this war. From the Horde in the 13th century to the Nazis and Bolsheviks in the 20th century, Kyiv’s sacred monasteries have suffered numerous barbarically attacks. Now we are dealing with Russian terrorists who have already outmatched ISIS in their crimes against cultural heritage. Only Russian scum who have nothing sacred can deliberately damage the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, a unique UNESCO heritage site under special protection."

Given the importance and severity of this attack against a World Heritage Site, it is regrettable to see how many media outlets have covered this news, omitting it from their front pages or simply not giving it any coverage at all. Particularly egregious is the role of some religious news sites, which have published nothing about this attack, just as last year they concealed the Ukrainian government's report on the nearly 600 Ukrainian Christian churches attacked by the Russians. Those same media outlets don't hesitate to publish any information against Israel, but when it comes to Russia, they remain silent. Is this due to their affinity for Russia or because there are no Jews to blame?

You can see more images of this attack and the damage caused to the cathedral here.

---

Photos: Andrii Sybiha / SBU / State Emergency Service of Ukraine.